May Day Celebration at Scherman Hoffman on May 7

After last year’s resounding success, The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary is once again offering its May Day Celebration on Saturday, May 7 from 10am to 4pm.  This free event will feature music and entertainment; hands-on nature activities; live animal demonstrations, face painting and displays from local organizations.  Scherman Hoffman is located at 11 Hardscrabble Road in Bernardsville.  It includes 276 acres of scenic woodland, field and floodplain habitat supporting about 200 species of wildlife. The registration table will have event programs highlighting the day’s events.

This springtime celebration is a great way to get children involved and interested in nature.  There will be a wildlife radio telemetry classes which will help children track wildlife on the grounds of the sanctuary and will also show how professional wildlife biologists track different species as they travel around the world.  There will be a Tour the Young Audubon Art Show, featuring the works of young masters from area schools. 

A special visit by Ranger Rick is sure to be a May Day Celebration highlight. 

All ages will appreciate the live animal displays from The Raptor Trust, Rizzo’s Reptiles, birds from The Chimney Swifts and a close look the sanctuary’s own corn snakes and box turtles.  Musical performances on the schedule include Eco-Man, the NJ Folk Project: Circle Round the Sun, The Fabulous Furry Harmonica Brothers, Kathy Moser, and Tom Picard.

Nature presentations will be given by Peter Dunne, director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, vice president of the New Jersey Audubon Society’s vice president of Natural History Information, and founder of the World Series of Birding.  Gordon Thomas Ward: The New Jersey natural history author, presenter, and educator returns to offer his popular “Hike through History” within the sanctuary and the neighboring Cross Estate.  Pat Kane, the retired New Jersey Audubon vice president of education will tell stories of nature’s most beautiful and creative images.

The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary is a magical oasis in the heart of Bernardsville.  It’s just one of the many reasons homebuyers are drawn to Bernardsville real estate.  The Turpin Office at 163 Morristown Road in Bernardsville is always ready to answer your questions about local amenities.

Inviting Mendham Commons End Unit

Characterized by classic Colonial facades in an attractive neighborhood setting, residents of Mendham Commons enjoy a carefree townhome lifestyle.  On-site amenities include supervised swimming in indoor/outdoor pools, tennis courts, a playground, and a clubhouse with exercise room and kitchen.  The open space and pond within the community are easily viewed from most rooms in an end unit offering a prime waterside location.  A spacious layout includes three bedrooms, two full baths and a powder room, as well as an attached one-car garage. 

This home’s open layout incorporates a bright and airy living and dining room combination fitted with large windows, glass doors to the patio and deck, dentil moldings.  Lending additional charm is a floor-to-ceiling brick hearth gas fireplace in the living room and sparkling pond views.  Continuing the flow is a sun-filled kitchen, half bath and access to the attached garage.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is designed with a private deck overlooking the scenic pond.  A luxurious master bath provides an oversized vanity and stall shower.  Two more large bedrooms offer water views.  Hardwood flooring is found throughout the home, although some rooms are carpeted.  The basement is currently used for storage but could be converted to future living space.

Mendham Commons in Mendham Borough is close to Interstate 287 and New Jersey Transit’s Morristown train station for commuters as well as the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club and the circa 1774 Ford Mansion (George Washington’s Headquarters) at Morristown National Historical Park.

For more insights about Mendham real estate, call or visit the Mendham Office of Turpin Real Estate at 8 East Main Street in its historic village setting.

Well-Appointed Rolling Hills Home

There is renewed interest in split level-style homes since their innovative floor plans serve to bridge mid-century modern and Colonial styles, making their flowing layouts adaptable to any type of décor.  This delightful five bedroom, three-and-one-half bath residence is located in the desirable Rolling Hills neighborhood of Chatham Township.  Surrounded by over a half-acre of professionally designed gardens and green lawns, it was recently updated with a chef’s kitchen.

Highlights of this ten-room home include a spacious living and dining room combination, a renovated kitchen with breakfast bar, a den, family room and a recreation room in the finished basement.  Among the outstanding interior design features are two fireplaces, nicely-sized rooms and hardwood floors.   In the master bedroom, a private master bath features a steam shower. 

Storage options are easily met in the attached, oversized two-car garage with workshop and partially finished basement.  The beautiful grounds are appointed with a patio, wood fencing, mature trees and verdant landscaping.  Public utilities are in place for sewer and water.

The Rolling Hills neighborhood in Chatham is known for its winding, tree-lined streets and beautifully-maintained homes.  It is centrally located to all that Chatham has to offer.  It is less than a mile from the Noe Pond Club for seasonal swimming, boating and tennis or the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center which schedule nature-related activities all year ‘round.  For more information about this home, or other opportunities in Chatham real estate, contact our Chatham Office at 186 Main Street.

Far Hills Train Station

One of the area’s most-recognized landmarks is the historic Far Hills train station.  Located a short walk up Route 202 from our Far Hills Turpin office, the station provides NJ Transit service to Hoboken, Secaucus Junction or New York’s Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.  Spanish Revival in style, it was built in 1914 and in 1984 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Trains run on the Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex line, and the trip to New York City generally takes about an hour and a half, usually involving a transfer in Summit or Newark.  Midtown Direct service is also available from the Far Hills station, reducing the New York-bound ride to about 80 minutes.  Parking on holidays, weekends, or after 9AM on weekdays is free of charge, with a nominal fee at other times.  Permit parking is a good idea for commuters; a six-month permit is available at Far Hills Borough Hall.  Train tickets can be purchased on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

If you arrive early at the station (or if you miss the train), take advantage of The Butler’s Pantry Trackside.  This homey restaurant offers sit-down meals or to-go orders, and is a local favorite.

For more information about Far Hills, whether it’s about commuting times, train schedules or Far Hills real estate, visit the Turpin Office at 21 U.S. Route 202 in the heart of our hometown.

Imagine a large glass and steel box enclosing a smaller antique cottage and you have the basic concept of an innovative house-within-a-house designed by noted architect and designer Adam Kalkin in Bernardsville.  Though not actually one of Turpin’s sales, this home is so remarkable that it warranted mentioning as a home Turpin’s Oldwick office recently had on the market!

Tucked at the end of a private lane on the Bernardsville Mountain, this property was once part of the Pfizer estate.  The original 1890s gardener’s cottage encased by a modern steel outer shell is set on three serene acres with pond, stone walls and mature trees. 

Expansive openings and generous rooms within the large box create vast living areas, which are balanced by smaller nooks and crannies.  The resulting layout presents a variety of spaces that are ideal for projects of any size or scope.  The cottage anchors one end of the home, while the other end is detailed with a grid of nine rooms.

The interplay of sleek modern spaces stands in striking contrast to cozy rooms in the former gardener’s cottage.  Of special note are the interiors of the cottage, which were artfully designed by noted New York designer Albert Hadley.  His firm has a long list of celebrity clients including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Al Gore and Oscar de la Renta.  Windows in the two-story cottage look out on a vast living room and the series of nine rooms grouped together at the opposite end of the home.   Stepping onto the front porch of the cottage and into the contemporary rooms, the distinction is clear in the architect’s use of industrial materials.  Metal staircases, modern fixtures and oversized windows give the outer shell a crisp, clean outlook in comparison to the snug cottage rooms.

When both homes combine, there are a total of 14 rooms with five bedrooms, four and a half baths, two fireplaces, and a chef’s kitchen.  To bring the outdoors in, two enormous glass garage-style doors can be raised to expose countryside views that are close enough to touch.  Using an artistic eye and an appreciation of the whimsical, Adam Kalkin has rendered a space that is both imaginatively designed and exciting to live in.  This innovative residence represents a whole new level of architectural achievement in New Jersey real estate.

A Look At Chatham Day School

An independent school established in 1998, the co-educational Chatham Day School enrolls students in pre-school through eighth grade. Intentionally small in size with about 165 pupils, there is a clear focus on personalized attention and individuality.

The school’s mission reads: “Chatham Day School celebrates and values each child as a unique learner with extraordinary potential. We offer an academically ambitious program that promotes intellectual achievement and emotional growth in a diverse and nurturing environment.”

Located at 700 Shunpike Road in Chatham, the school offers tours by appointment as well as open houses, usually held in November and January.  With an impressive academic curriculum, graduates of Chatham Day School have gone to some of the area’s top high schools including the Delbarton School, Gill Saint Bernard’s School, Morristown-Beard School, Kent Place School, Barnstable Academy and The Montclair Kimberley Academy.

The well-informed sales associates in our Chatham Office can share more information about Chatham Day School as well as many of the other fine public and private schools in the area.  Our knowledge of local amenities like schools, combined with the latest information about Chatham homes for sale, makes Turpin a smart choice when you are ready to buy or sell a home.

Sundays in the Park with Leonard J. Buck

Spring is in the air, and one of the best places to see how the season is progressing is the Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills.  Stop by the garden on Sunday afternoons in April and May (except for holiday weekends) to join an afternoon Woodland Walk.  You’re likely to spy native wildflowers, colorful flowering trees and shrubs, and springtime perennials.  As the days get warmer, dogwood trees and azalea bushes will come into full bloom.

Tours take place on Sundays at 2PM on April 10, 17 and on May 1, 8 and 15.  There is a $4 fee per person for this informative tour led by a naturalist.

The Leonard J. Buck Garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States.  Begun in the late 1930s, the garden has reached a breathtaking point of maturity. It consists of a series of alpine and woodland gardens situated in a 33-acre wooded stream valley.  Named for Mr. Leonard J. Buck, who developed the garden as part of his estate, it was donated to the Somerset County Park Commission by Mrs. Helen Buck in 1976.

The Leonard J. Buck Garden is part of the Somerset County Park Commission.  It is located at 11 Layton Road.  For more information or directions, call 908-234-2677.

Kenilwood is a legendary Bernardsville home which was originally owned by George B. Post Jr., founder of the Wall Street brokerage firm of Post and Flagg.  Post’s father was the famous architect who designed the New York Stock Exchange and other landmark buildings.  Built in the early part of the 20^th century, Kenilwood is an excellent example of gothic revival style.  The manor house’s façade is fashioned of stone.

Gerry-Jo Cranmer in the Bernardsville Office was involved in the sale of Kenilwood in the 1990s when it was owned by heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. 

The high-profile sale also came with a high price tag, as The New York Times explained in an article from 1994.  “When Mr. Tyson bought the mansion, on Memorial Day 1988, many in this part of New Jersey’s hunt country said he had paid too much, especially for the two lots that bracketed the Bernardsville estate.  He paid a little over $4 million for the house on 14 acres and $950,000 for each of the two five-acre lots.  At the time, similar lots were going for $650,000, according to Jack Turpin of Turpin Real Estate in Far Hills, N.J.”  Gerry-Jo Cranmer says the selling price was the highest price of the year for an off-water property in the tri-state region that year.

Tyson added a tennis court where Martina Navratilova reportedly played at least once.  The 18,000 square foot mansion was set on 14 acres.  He lived there for two years. 

Selling Kenilwood didn’t come without an element of danger, according to Gerry-Jo Cranmer. “Mike Tyson’s sometimes vicious dogs were in residence when I was selling the house (Mike was not) and the caretaker was often not there when I had to show it.  So I always went armed with meaty bones to throw to them so that I could distract them and be able to show the house.”

Classic Brick Manor in Mendham Township

A new listing in Mendham Township presents a spacious, open floor plan with many refined details.  This brick manor is set at the end of a peaceful street on 5.5 private acres surrounded by mature trees and green lawns.  A dramatic point of entry is the two-story foyer with a sweeping staircase with railed gallery overlooks.  The formal dining room set beyond an arched doorway features a bay window with a roomy built-in seat.  The formal living room is anchored by an elegantly-manteled, wood-burning fireplace.  A full wall stone fireplace in the family room creates a welcome feeling in this comfortable space.  The gourmet kitchen adjoins a sunny dining area enclosed by a window walls.  Another main floor convenience is a guest suite with full bath.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is styled with an innovative ceiling containing high arched and angular pitches and circle top windows as well as several walk-in closets and a dressing area.  The property has a detached four-car garage topped by a finished room with full bath, making it an ideal home office or secondary guest quarters.

This sophisticated home’s floor plan is designed with a variety of classic amenities throughout, presenting an excellent backdrop for any style of decor.  Its traditional design sense combines with a flexible layout, making it a true standout among Mendham homes for sale.

Little Brook Farm is a charming and picturesque piece of New Jersey real estate set amid 28 acres on the Bernardsville Mountain.  A long, private drive passing by a spring-fed stream and lush valley enters the property leading to the main residence, a circa 1840 Dutch farmhouse with additions made in 1935.  The setting exudes the romance and charm reminiscent of the English countryside with pastures, woodland, ponds, stone walls, formal lawns and gardens.

Selling agent, Gerry Jo Cramner remembers the sequence of events leading to that Bernardsville home for sale:

“It was not on the market at the time that I sold it, but I knew that my buyers would love it.  I had been working with them for some time and had gotten to know their taste very well.  A Turpin colleague of mine had sold it to the people living in it, so I asked him to approach them about selling it.  They set a price and let me show it to my buyers, who immediately fell in love with it, bought it and were then married there in the rose garden.”

Dr. Frank Babbott, president of Long Island College of Medicine, built the home for his wife and five children and lived there from 1934 to 1961.  The additions and renovations he made were incorporated into the original stone farmhouse and created a unique building encompassing seven levels and 20 rooms.  In 1964, Dr. Babbott donated the main house, outbuildings and 28 acres of Little Brook Farm to Drew University.  He handed the keys to Drew’s president with the hope that the estate “would go on bringing beauty and happiness to others.”  Drew used the property as a retreat and conference center until it was returned to private ownership in 1993.

The stone and frame house with custom made clay tile roof features original architectural details like oak floors and beamed ceilings. In addition to the grand main home, this rambling estate includes a two-bedroom cottage, a barn with a one-bedroom apartment and loft, a two-bay garage/wagon shed and a second large barn.  A stone summer house, root cellar, poultry barn and sheep barn are also found on the property, as well as a pool with pool house.

For more information about Little Brook Farm, refer to New Jersey Country Houses: The Somerset Hills, Volume 2.